Research Areas: Polymers; Soft Matter; Programmable Cell Assembly; Human Lung Defense; 3D (Bio)Printing
†Denotes equal contribution; + Denotes undergraduate researcher; *Denotes corresponding author.
Google Scholar
2022
31. Active matter in complex environments
Li-Heng Cai, Sujit Datta, Xiang Cheng
Frontiers in Physics (2022). [Editorial, Link]
[Soft Matter]
30. All-aqueous printing of viscoelastic droplets in yield-stress fluids.
Jinchang Zhu, Li-Heng Cai.
Acta Biomaterialia (2021). [Link]
[3D Bioprinting; Programmable Cell Assembly]
29. Dynamic mechanical properties of self-assembled bottlebrush polymer networks.
Shifeng Nian, Li-Heng Cai.
Macromolecules, 55, 8058–8066 (2021).
[Polymers]
28. A high-throughput multiparameter screen for accelerated development and optimization of soluble genetically encoded fluorescent biosensors.
Dorothy Koveal, Paul C Rosen, Dylan J Meyer, Carlos Manlio Díaz-García, Yongcheng Wang, Li-Heng Cai, Peter J Chou, David A Weitz, Gary Yellen.
Nature Communications, 13, 1-14 (2022)
[Soft Matter]
2021
27. Self-assembly of flexible linear-semiflexible bottlebrush-flexible linear triblock copolymers.
S. Nian, F. Zhou, G. Freychet, M. Zhernenkov, S. Redemann, L.-H. Cai*.
Macromolecules 54, 9361-9371 (2021). [PDF]
[Polymers]
26. Digital assembly of spherical viscoelastic bio-ink particles
J. Zhu†, Y. He†, L. Kong, Z. He, K.Y. Kang, S.P. Grady, L.Q. Nguyen D. Chen, Y. Wang, J. Oberholzer, L.-H. Cai*
Advanced Functional Materials 2109004 (2021). [PDF]
[3D Bioprinting; Programmable Cell Assembly]
25. Effects of vimentin intermediate filaments on the structure and dynamics of in vitro multicomponent interpenetrating cytoskeletal networks
Y. Shen, H. Wu, P.J. Lu, D. Wang, M. Shayegan, H. Li, W. Shi, Z. Wang, L.-H. Cai, J. Xia, M. Zhang, R. Ding, H. Herrmann, R. Goldman, F.C. MacKintosh, A. Moncho-Jorda, and D. A. Weitz.
Physical Review Letters 127, 108101 (2021).
[Soft Matter]
24. Three-dimensional printable, extremely soft, stretchable, and reversible elastomers from molecular architecture-directed assembly.
Shifeng Nian,† Jinchang Zhu,† Haozhe Zhang, Zihao Gong, Guillaume Freychet, Mikhail Zhernenkov, Baoxing Xu, Li-Heng Cai*.
Chemistry of Materials, 33, 2436–2445 (2021). [PDF]
Featured as Front Cover; highlighted as Editor’s Choice in Science; reported by EurekAlert and many others
[Polymers; 3D Printing]
23. Anomalous mechanics of Zn2+ modified fibrin networks.
J. Xia, L.-H. Cai, H. Wu, F.C. MacKintosh, D.A. Weitz.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118, e2020541118 (2021)
[Soft Matter]
2020
22. Molecular understanding for large deformations of soft bottlebrush polymer networks.
Li-Heng Cai*
Soft Matter, 6, 6259-6264 (2020). [PDF]
Emerging Investigator Issue
[Polymers; Theory + Experiments]
21. Capillary transfer of soft films.
Yue Zhang, Mengtian Yin, Yongmin Baek, Kyusang Lee, Giovanni Zangari, Li-Heng Cai, Baoxing Xu.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 17, 5210−5216 (2020).
[Soft Matter]
20. Rapid isolation of antigen-specific B-cells using droplet microfluidics
R. Ding, K.-H. Hung, A. Mitra, L. Ung, D. Lightwood, R. Tu, D. Starkie, L.-H. Cai, L. Mazutis, S. Chong, D.A. Weitz, J. Heyman
RSC Advances. 10, 27006-27013 (2020).
[Soft Matter]
19. Dissolvable polyacrylamide beads for high‐throughput droplet DNA barcoding.
Yongcheng Wang, Ting Cao, Jina Ko, Yinan Shen, Will Zong, Kuanwei Sheng, Wenjian Cao, Sijie Sun, Li-Heng Cai, Ying‐Lin Zhou, Xin‐Xiang Zhang, Chenghang Zong, Ralph Weissleder, David Weitz.
Advanced Science, 1903463 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.201903463
[Soft Matter]
18. The rheology property of organogels based on 3D helical nanofilament bnetworks self-assembled by bent-core liquid crystals.
Xing-Zheng Wang, Chen-Jing Yang, Li-Heng Cai*, Dong Chen*
Acta Physica Sinica, 69, 086102 (2020).
[Soft Matter]
2019
17. Molecular architecture directs linear–bottlebrush–linear triblock copolymers to self-assemble to soft reprocessable elastomers.
Shifeng Nian, Huada Lian, Zihao Gong, Mikhail Zhernenkov, Jian Qin, Li-Heng Cai*.
ACS Macro Letters, 8, 1528−1534 (2019). [PDF]
[Polymers]
16. Millimeter-size Pickering emulsions stabilized with Janus microparticles.
Bobby Haney, Dong Chen, Li-Heng Cai, David A Weitz, Subramanian Ramakrishnan.
Langmuir, 35, 4693-4701 (2019).
[Soft Matter]
15. Human cough clearance: roles of mucus adhesion and cohesion.
Brian Button, Henry Goodell, Eyad Atieh, Yu-Cheng Chen, Robert Williams, Siddharth Shenoy, Elijah Lackey, Nathan Shenkute, Li-Heng Cai, Robert Dennis, Richard Boucher, Michael Rubinstein.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 115, 12501-12506 (2018). [PDF]
[Human lung defense]
Before 2018
14. Biocompatible amphiphilic hydrogel-solid dimer particles as colloidal surfactants.
Dong Chen, Esther Amstad, Chun-Xia Zhao, Li-Heng Cai, Jing Fan, Qiushui Chen, Mingtan Hai, Stephan Koehler, Huidan Zhang, Fuxin Liang, Zhenzhong Yang, David A Weitz.
ACS Nano, 11, 11978 (2017). [PDF]
[Soft Matter]
13. Tough self-healing elastomers by molecular enforced integration of covalent and reversible networks.
Jinrong Wu, Li-Heng Cai*, and David A. Weitz*.
Advanced Materials. 29, 1702616 (2017). [PDF]
Reported by Harvard News, EurekAlert, Fox News, Farsnews, The Guardian, Yahoo!, DailyMail, Phys.org, Digital Trends, Rubber News, The Times of India (Delhi), GlobalSpec, Digital Journal, Engineers Australia etc
[Polymers]
12. Graphene oxide induced crosslinking and reinforcement of elastomers.
Wang Xing, Hengyi Li, Guangsu Huang+, Li-Heng Cai*, Jinrong Wu*.
Composites Science and Technology 144, 223 (2017). [PDF]
11. Ultrafast Nanofiltration through Large-Area Single-Layered Graphene Membranes.
Yanzhe Qin, Yongyou Hu, Stephan Koehler, Li-Heng Cai, Junjie Wen, Xiaojun Tan, Weiwei L Xu, Qian Sheng, Xu Hou, Jianming Xue, Miao Yu, David Weitz.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 9, 9239 (2017). [PDF]
10. One-step microfluidic fabrication of polyelectrolyte microcapsules in aqueous condition for protein release.
Liyuan Zhang†, Li-Heng Cai†, Philipp S. Lienemann, Torsten Rossow, Ingmar Polenz, Queralt Vallmajo-Martin, Martin Ehrbar, Hui Na, David J. Mooney, and David A. Weitz.
Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 5, 13470 (2016). [PDF]
[Soft Matter]
9. Hidden in the mist no more: physical force in cell biology.
Karin Wang, Li-Heng Cai, Bo Lan, Jeffrey J Fredberg.
Nature Methods, 13, 124 (2016). [PDF]
8. Advanced materials for self-healing applications.
Jinrong Wu, Li-Heng Cai*, and Huanan Wang
in Design, Fabrication, Properties and Applications of Smart and Advanced Materials. 2016.
7. Soft poly(dimethylsiloxane) elastomers from architecture-driven entanglement free design.
Li-Heng Cai†, Thomas E. Kodger†, Rodrigo E. Guerra, Adrian F. Pegoraro, Michael Rubinstein, and David A. Weitz.
Advanced Materials, 27, 5132 (2015). [PDF] [SI]
Selected as VIP paper, featured as Cover Article, reported by Havard News, Science Daily etc.
[Polymers]
6. Hopping diffusion of nanoparticles in polymer matrices.
Li-Heng Cai, Sergey Panyukov, and Michael Rubinstein.
Macromolecules, 48 , 847 (2015). [PDF]
[Polymers]
5. Cystic fibrosis airway secretions exhibit mucin hyperconcentration and increased osmotic pressure.
Ashley G. Henderson, Camille Ehre, Brian Button, Lubna H. Abdullah, Li-Heng Cai, Margaret W. Leigh, Genevieve DeMaria, Hiro Matsui, Scott H. Donaldson, C. William Davis, John K. Sheehan, Richard C. Boucher, and Mehmet Kesimer.
Journal of Clinical Investigation, 124, 3047 (2014). [PDF]
[Human lung defense]
4. Self-healing of unentangled polymer networks with reversible bonds.
Evgeny B. Stukalin†, Li-Heng Cai†, N. Arun Kumar, Ludwik Leibler, and Michael Rubinstein.
Macromolecules, 46 , 7525 (2013). [PDF]
[Polymers; Theory]
3. A periciliary brush promotes the lung health by separating the mucus layer from airway epithelia.
Brian Button†, Li-Heng Cai†, Camille Ehre, Mehmet Kesimer, David B. Hill, John K. Sheehan, Richard C. Boucher, and Michael Rubinstein.
Science, 337, 937 (2012). [PDF] [SI]
Featured as Cover Article; highlighted by a perspective, editorial comments, and reported by BBC news and many others.
[Human lung defense]
2. Mobility of nonsticky nanoparticles in polymer liquids.
Li-Heng Cai, Sergey Panyukov, and Michael Rubinstein.
Macromolecules, 44, 7853 (2011). [PDF]
[Polymers; Theory]
1. Template synthesis and magnetic behavior of FeNi alloy nanotube arrays.
Dong Zhou, Li-Heng Cai, Fu-shen Wen, and Fa-shen Li.
Chinese Journal of Chemical Physics, 20, 821 (2007). [PDF]